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<p><b>Have your input into “Help shape Yarra’s future” by Thursday
11 May 2017<br>
</b></p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.yarrabug.org/2017/05/08/input-help-shape-yarras-future-thursday-11/">http://www.yarrabug.org/2017/05/08/input-help-shape-yarras-future-thursday-11/</a><b><br>
</b></p>
<p>It is absolutely vital we make submissions about bicycle
infrastructure funding to Yarra Councils 2017/18 draft budget and
if possible, personally speak to these submissions at a Special
Council Meeting on 17 May at Richmond Town Hall<br>
<br>
Read below for our responses to the Draft Council Plan, Draft
Annual Budget and Proposed Waste Service Charge and please feel
free to use, expand these and add your own to the Submission Form:<br>
<br>
>>>> <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.yoursayyarra.com.au/shape-yarra-future">http://www.yoursayyarra.com.au/shape-yarra-future</a><br>
<br>
<b>Draft Council Plan 2017–21</b><br>
<br>
A problem with any Draft Council Plan is that bicycle
infrastructure funding is not automatically included in annual
council budgets. In order to permanently fund bicycle
infrastructure, future Yarra Council budgets should include this
requirement as standard operating procedure so that projects and
funding can not be politicised, as has occured in previous years.<br>
<br>
The Draft Council Plan has many positive goals, including
community education for all road users, high priority for bikes,
walking tracks and facilities and encouraging using public
transport, walking or cycling as the first choice of transport
(Liveable Yarra community survey)<br>
<br>
However these can not be achieved unless there is a serious change
in thinking within council and real goals are applied, including
the Bike Strategy Refresh (2016).<br>
<br>
Yarra has the highest cycling participation rates in Australia
with near 10% of residents riding daily, with a growing population
and increased pressure on local transport and planning, Yarra
Council must:<br>
<br>
</p>
<ul>
<li>integrate and complement sustainable transport solutions with
an emphasis upon developing walking and cycling routes that are
safe for ages "8 to 80",</li>
<li>develop safe routes to school, eg: riding routes to the new
Richmond High School,</li>
<li>construct seperated on-road routes, eg: finishing the
Wellington St separated lanes, this is a vital infrastructure
framework for trips within and through Yarra,</li>
<li>create more secure bike parking along main streets and trip
destinations,</li>
<li>network with nearby councils and state government to plan,
fund and build overdue local infrastructure,</li>
<li>In regards to improved shared path connections and signage,
Yarra Council should consider networking with local councils to
share maintenance and wayfinding information</li>
</ul>
<p><b><br>
</b></p>
<p><b>Draft Annual Budget 2017-18</b><br>
<br>
The Strategic Transport budget allocates $821K towards bicycle
infrastructure, of which, $500K is for the completion of
Wellington St and $90K is combined bicycle network program and
bicycle parking.<br>
<br>
These figures illustrate the requirement for a more accurate
funding breakdown, which in turn can be used to show Service
Performance Indicators for how Yarra Councils bicycle
infrastructure goals will be achieved.<br>
<br>
Overall the bicycle infrastructure spend for 2017/18 has decreased
yet again, when compared to Yarra Councils Roadworks budget
($8.4M), given that existing cycling projects take up bulk of
allocated funding (Wellington Street, Rushall Reserve, Coulson
Reserve), with a relatively small figure remaining to consider any
Bike Strategy Refresh (2016) projects or additional bicycle
network program and bicycle parking works.<br>
<br>
Yarra Councils Draft Budget should be amended to accurately
reflect residents usage patterns of near 10% riding to work, eg:
an additional $800K in the Draft Council Plan 2017–21.<br>
<br>
</p>
<p><b>Proposed Waste Service Charge</b><b><br>
</b><br>
This proposed charge has been highly contentious among Yarra
residents. However, like all other Victorian councils, Yarra is
under a rates cap from State government.<br>
<br>
Write how you feel about this charge, maybe you have other
worthwhile suggestions for council to source funding?<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>****<br>
<br>
</p>
<p><b>Make a submission</b><br>
<br>
You can contribute between Thursday 6 April and 5pm, Thursday 11
May (extended deadline) in a number of ways:<br>
<br>
Via the online submission form: <br>
</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.yoursayyarra.com.au/shape-yarra-future">http://www.yoursayyarra.com.au/shape-yarra-future</a><br>
<br>
You can email submissions to: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:info@yarracity.vic.gov.au">info@yarracity.vic.gov.au</a><br>
<br>
Or Post to: Yarra City Council</p>
<p>Attention: Your Say Yarra consultation<br>
PO Box 168<br>
Richmond VIC 3121<br>
<br>
<b>Speak to your submission</b><br>
<br>
Council will hear and consider verbal submissions at a Special
Council Meeting at 6.30pm on Wednesday 17 May at Richmond Town
Hall.<br>
<br>
If you lodge a submission before the extended deadline (11 May),
and your submission included an intention to speak in support of
it (or have someone else speak on your behalf) you will be given
an opportunity to do so at this meeting. We will advise you of
this process after your written submission is received.</p>
<p><br>
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<br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
<big><b><span style="color: #006600;">Listen to <a
href="http://www.yarrabug.org/radio/">Yarra Bicycle Users
Group Radio</a></span></b></big><br>
<b><span style="color: #006600;">Every Monday morning 10am on <a
href="http://www.3cr.org.au/">3CR 855AM Community Radio</a></span></b><br>
<b><a href="http://www.yarrabug.org/">web</a></b><b> | </b><b><a
href="https://www.facebook.com/YarraBUGRadio/">facebook</a></b><b>|
</b><b><a href="https://twitter.com/yarrabike">twitter</a></b></div>
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